Travel Report For Brazil
Oct 8th, 2015, 06:40 AM
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Travel Report For Brazil
Hi,
here you find our Travel Report for my last trips to Brazil (6 weeks over August / September 2015 and 4 weeks in August 2007).
You also find on my Blog a part on budget (http://grandescapades.net/grand-esca...zil/#more-7076) & a selection of 58 pictures (http://grandescapades.net/brazil-a-s...f-55-pictures/)
Fore more details on Brazil: http://grandescapades.net/category/s...merica/brazil/
Do not hesitate if you have specific questions.
Cheers
Gilles
Itinerary And Time Of The Visit
In 2007, I spent 4 weeks in Brazil and entered the country from Venezuela, discovering Manaus, Recife & Olinda, Fernando de Noronha, Salvador de Baia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo. In 2015, I spent 6 weeks there and visited Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Minas Gerai (Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto & Tiradentes), Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande, Iguazu (both Brazilean & Argentinian sides), Bonito, the Northern Pantanal (entering from Cuiaba and going to Porto Jofre), Brasilia & last but not least Sao Paulo.
Why Travel To Brazil?
Brazil has something for every taste, for every type of traveler and for most budgets (mostly the higher ones, though). The highlights of this country are so diverse that it is quite challenging to make such a list… You will find there:
• Some of the nicest and best preserved colonial cities (several a UNESCO World Heritage),
• Some of the most breathtaking natural sites (think of Iguazu Falls),
• Some of the richest wildlife watching opportunities,
• Some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world,
• Some of the best places to party you can imagine,
• Rio de Janeiro, in my opinion one of the most unique city in the world,
• And last but not least an immense diversity and a unique combination of people and cultures, as Brazil is probably the greatest Melting Pot one can find…
On top of that, the country is easy to travel and relatively safe if you exercise some basic precautions (see below: Is It Safe To Travel Brazil?). Nevertheless, the bad news is: it is not cheap! So plan your budget accordingly…
Challenges Organizing The Trip - What Would I Have Wished To Know?
Organizing a trip to Brazil is extremely easy: European citizens do not need a visa (North Americans are subject to “Reciprocity” and need one) and can stay up to 90 days. You can now book all air tickets online, which make things much easier (this wasn’t the case back in 2007). Cash is widely available at ATMs that you can find almost everywhere. Most hotels have very good websites in English (though staff may very well only speak Portuguese) and are easy to book.
The only restriction is that booking bus tickets is not possible online for non-residents (you need a so-called CPF-Number), but bus tickets are widely available even a few days before (maybe except during Carnival).
If you go for Carnival (which I haven’t done), consider booking months ahead, as everything will be sold out! And be ready for some extravagant prices on anything you can imagine…
Highlights Of The Trip
• Rio de Janeiro - Yes, there is something really special, almost mystical about this name: hardly any city stimulates as much the imagination. Deservedly!
• Iguazu Falls - No matter how many waterfalls you have seen in your life, these leave the most experienced travelers mumbling all kinds of words of excitement when you finally stand in front of the “Garganta del Diablo” or the “Salto San Martin”. In my opinion, these are the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, more impressive than Niagara Falls (USA), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Angel Falls (Venezuela).
• Some of the most superb Colonial Cities of the Americas
• Salvador de Bahia, a UNESCO World Heritage, the largest Colonial City of the Americas
• Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a superb Colonial City in a unique topography, Minas Gerais
• Tiradentes, a maze of cobblestone streets, Minas Gerais
• Mariana, the oldest city of Minas Gerais
• The Basilica of Congonhas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Minas Gerais
• Olinda Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage
• The Pantanal - The largest tropical wetland area in the world is home to one of the greatest bioderversity on earth. Who doesn’t dream of spotting such an elusive “Big Cat” (the third biggest in the world, after Tigers & Lions) as the Jaguar?
• Brasilia - Only city built in the 20th Century listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, Brasilia is fascinating, disturbing and intimidating alike… There is much to do in Brasilia, and if you want to scratch bellow the surface, you will need several days to start grasping this futuristic yet anachronic city, in the heart of Brazil - An the best part of it: you will be the only non-Brazilean tourist!
• Breathtaking Beaches - No matter how long you spend in Brazil, you will never see all those long stretches of white sand lined with palm trees and turquoise waters… Both in Morro de Sao Paulo (especially Praia 4 and Praia 5) and on Ilha Grande (Praia Lopes Mendes), I found some of the most beautiful beaches I ever experienced, most of the time completely empty!
• Fernando de Noronha - Money doesn’t play a role for you? Then head for this National Park 350 kilometers off Recife, a small island offering some of the most breathtaking, desterted beaches, a unique wildlife for Snorklers & Divers, and… Outrageous prices!
• Witnessing a true Melting-Pot - Brazil is the greatest (and actually only) true Melting Pot I have ever experienced, with people from all origins, all colors of skin, all physical types living together and mixing as if this was absolutely normal. True, some issues remain, and in the richest neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, this diversity is less obvious. But spend a few hours walking on La Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon beaches, and you will witness a unique mix of people, something you had never observed before (and probably will probably never experience again).
How To Go Off The Beaten Track?
For more details, check my Blog: http://grandescapades.net/grand-esca...ide-to-brazil/
here you find our Travel Report for my last trips to Brazil (6 weeks over August / September 2015 and 4 weeks in August 2007).
You also find on my Blog a part on budget (http://grandescapades.net/grand-esca...zil/#more-7076) & a selection of 58 pictures (http://grandescapades.net/brazil-a-s...f-55-pictures/)
Fore more details on Brazil: http://grandescapades.net/category/s...merica/brazil/
Do not hesitate if you have specific questions.
Cheers
Gilles
Itinerary And Time Of The Visit
In 2007, I spent 4 weeks in Brazil and entered the country from Venezuela, discovering Manaus, Recife & Olinda, Fernando de Noronha, Salvador de Baia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo. In 2015, I spent 6 weeks there and visited Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Minas Gerai (Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto & Tiradentes), Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande, Iguazu (both Brazilean & Argentinian sides), Bonito, the Northern Pantanal (entering from Cuiaba and going to Porto Jofre), Brasilia & last but not least Sao Paulo.
Why Travel To Brazil?
Brazil has something for every taste, for every type of traveler and for most budgets (mostly the higher ones, though). The highlights of this country are so diverse that it is quite challenging to make such a list… You will find there:
• Some of the nicest and best preserved colonial cities (several a UNESCO World Heritage),
• Some of the most breathtaking natural sites (think of Iguazu Falls),
• Some of the richest wildlife watching opportunities,
• Some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world,
• Some of the best places to party you can imagine,
• Rio de Janeiro, in my opinion one of the most unique city in the world,
• And last but not least an immense diversity and a unique combination of people and cultures, as Brazil is probably the greatest Melting Pot one can find…
On top of that, the country is easy to travel and relatively safe if you exercise some basic precautions (see below: Is It Safe To Travel Brazil?). Nevertheless, the bad news is: it is not cheap! So plan your budget accordingly…
Challenges Organizing The Trip - What Would I Have Wished To Know?
Organizing a trip to Brazil is extremely easy: European citizens do not need a visa (North Americans are subject to “Reciprocity” and need one) and can stay up to 90 days. You can now book all air tickets online, which make things much easier (this wasn’t the case back in 2007). Cash is widely available at ATMs that you can find almost everywhere. Most hotels have very good websites in English (though staff may very well only speak Portuguese) and are easy to book.
The only restriction is that booking bus tickets is not possible online for non-residents (you need a so-called CPF-Number), but bus tickets are widely available even a few days before (maybe except during Carnival).
If you go for Carnival (which I haven’t done), consider booking months ahead, as everything will be sold out! And be ready for some extravagant prices on anything you can imagine…
Highlights Of The Trip
• Rio de Janeiro - Yes, there is something really special, almost mystical about this name: hardly any city stimulates as much the imagination. Deservedly!
• Iguazu Falls - No matter how many waterfalls you have seen in your life, these leave the most experienced travelers mumbling all kinds of words of excitement when you finally stand in front of the “Garganta del Diablo” or the “Salto San Martin”. In my opinion, these are the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, more impressive than Niagara Falls (USA), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Angel Falls (Venezuela).
• Some of the most superb Colonial Cities of the Americas
• Salvador de Bahia, a UNESCO World Heritage, the largest Colonial City of the Americas
• Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a superb Colonial City in a unique topography, Minas Gerais
• Tiradentes, a maze of cobblestone streets, Minas Gerais
• Mariana, the oldest city of Minas Gerais
• The Basilica of Congonhas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Minas Gerais
• Olinda Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage
• The Pantanal - The largest tropical wetland area in the world is home to one of the greatest bioderversity on earth. Who doesn’t dream of spotting such an elusive “Big Cat” (the third biggest in the world, after Tigers & Lions) as the Jaguar?
• Brasilia - Only city built in the 20th Century listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, Brasilia is fascinating, disturbing and intimidating alike… There is much to do in Brasilia, and if you want to scratch bellow the surface, you will need several days to start grasping this futuristic yet anachronic city, in the heart of Brazil - An the best part of it: you will be the only non-Brazilean tourist!
• Breathtaking Beaches - No matter how long you spend in Brazil, you will never see all those long stretches of white sand lined with palm trees and turquoise waters… Both in Morro de Sao Paulo (especially Praia 4 and Praia 5) and on Ilha Grande (Praia Lopes Mendes), I found some of the most beautiful beaches I ever experienced, most of the time completely empty!
• Fernando de Noronha - Money doesn’t play a role for you? Then head for this National Park 350 kilometers off Recife, a small island offering some of the most breathtaking, desterted beaches, a unique wildlife for Snorklers & Divers, and… Outrageous prices!
• Witnessing a true Melting-Pot - Brazil is the greatest (and actually only) true Melting Pot I have ever experienced, with people from all origins, all colors of skin, all physical types living together and mixing as if this was absolutely normal. True, some issues remain, and in the richest neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, this diversity is less obvious. But spend a few hours walking on La Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon beaches, and you will witness a unique mix of people, something you had never observed before (and probably will probably never experience again).
How To Go Off The Beaten Track?
For more details, check my Blog: http://grandescapades.net/grand-esca...ide-to-brazil/
Oct 22nd, 2015, 08:54 AM
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Enjoyed your blog and am going to Bonito next May/June after staying at a fazenda in the southern Pantanal. I am curious about the activities that you found to be disappointing in Bonito.
We are going to the Blue Lake Grotto, Macaws Sinkhole, Rancho Mimosa, boating on the Formosa River along with snorkeling at Rio da Prata, Nascente Azul and Rio do Peixe.
Although this will be my fourth trip to Brazil, it's the first time to the Southern Pantanal and Bonito.
Thanks!
We are going to the Blue Lake Grotto, Macaws Sinkhole, Rancho Mimosa, boating on the Formosa River along with snorkeling at Rio da Prata, Nascente Azul and Rio do Peixe.
Although this will be my fourth trip to Brazil, it's the first time to the Southern Pantanal and Bonito.
Thanks!
